PHILADELPHIA — How do you tell a group of guys something they likely already knew?

By the time reporters had filed into the 76ers’ locker room Monday night, facial expressions and body language seemed to indicate that the players within had already been briefed on Andrew Bynum — that their 7-foot center would undergo surgery and would miss every last one of their 82 games this season.

The Sixers spoke of hope for Bynum’s healthy recovery, prayer for his solid rehab … and lament for their season that never was.

“It’s tough, but – at the same time — it’s what we’ve been saying all year. We never played with (Bynum), so it’s just kind of speculation from there,” Sixers center Spencer Hawes said. “We know how badly he wants to get back out there, but sitting around doing that is not going to bring him back any quicker.”

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Bynum was to go under the knife Tuesday in New York City, having arthroscopic surgery on both knees performed by David Altchek, the 25-year-old’s longtime physician.

For a few reasons, the Sixers did not provide a timetable for his return. One, Bynum will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it’s distinctly possible he may not be with the Sixers next season. Two, the procedure is meant to clear out debris in Bynum’s knees while also exploring what further procedures are best suited for the big man, so there’s a lack of clarity involved with the surgery.

Still, Thaddeus Young sounded as though he’d welcome Bynum back into the mix next season – assuming he’s fully healed.

“Me personally, I think having him on the team and having his presence inside is huge,” Young said Monday, after the Sixers defeated Portland. “That’s always been a knock on us, that we don’t have a true big man. If we can get him back 100-percent healthy, it’s going to be scary for a whole lot of teams next year.”

Evan Turner wasn’t as willing to commit to asking Bynum to return to the Sixers.

Young spoke of Bynum’s health. That’s a big ‘if’ surrounding the big man, and Bynum’s tenure with the Sixers has been dotted with the unknown … which made the news release that he would not play with the Sixers this season somewhat predictable.

Nevertheless, it hit home with a few of the guys. And how could it not? Bynum was the offseason acquisition who was expected to carry them to new heights. Possibly back to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Possibly further.

“I mean, that sucks. That sucked to hear it, from an athlete- and a friend-perspective,” Jrue Holiday said. “I guess I don’t know what that’s like. I’m just praying for him.”

Though Bynum has been around the team since October, when training camp opened, he hasn’t always been around – if that makes sense. In the last eight months, he’s been shuffled across the country and between the offices of as many as six doctors.

“This is my first year really getting to know Andrew and in getting to know him, I don’t think any of us really have gotten to know Andrew. He hasn’t been around,” Damien Wilkins said. “He’s been trying to get his knee better, visiting doctors every day. They had him in the training room every day.”

Unless there’s a chance a player will be available to play, those listed in the injury report don’t travel with the team, either. So while there’s plenty of down time on road trips for guys to get to know one another, Bynum hasn’t been exposed to those opportunities.

“When he’s around, he’s a great guy. But once you go with the flow and everything, and you’re on the road a lot, I don’t know Andrew personally or anything like that,” Turner said. “I only know him from being in the locker room. I know that much about him, and he’s a great guy in the locker room.”

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The Sixers, who hopped a flight to Los Angeles Tuesday and practiced there in the early evening, kick off a four-game roadtrip tonight against the Clippers.

They have won three of four and, with Monday’s win, achieved their third winning streak in four months. It’s not much, but it’s progress – and Sixers coach Doug Collins has linked it to Hawes. Apparently, before the Sixers (26-40) hosted Indiana last weekend, Hawes spoke to his teammates about finishing out the season strong.

But Hawes wouldn’t call it a team meeting.

“We just had to get everyone on the same page. It wasn’t a big speech or anything,” he said. “It was just everyone looking at each other, being cognizant and going, ‘OK, enough is enough.’ We’re all competitors in here. No one likes losing and no one accepts losing. When you get in those ruts, it’s easy to get on a roll going one way. But it’s easier to get on a slide on the counter side and everyone decided that’s it. Enough is enough.”